A tale of two universities
South Africa’s two newest universities had their origins back in 2010. That year, the South African Government announced its intention to establish two new institutions of higher learning. In late 2011, the Department of Higher Education and Training, together with the University of Witwatersrand, formed the New Universities Project Management Team. This team was responsible read more »
Recent shifts in company income tax
Although the mining industry strengthened company tax collections after the COVID-19 pandemic, its momentum has recently waned. The importance of CIT Company income tax (CIT) was the third largest source of government tax revenue in 2021/22, according to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).1 Personal income tax was the largest contributor (35,5%), followed by value-added read more »
SA economy expands in Q2: 2023
South African real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0,6% in the second quarter (April–June) of 2023.1 This follows a 0,4% rise in the first quarter. Overview Six industries on the supply side of the economy grew in the second quarter, with manufacturing and finance driving much of the upward momentum. On the demand side, read more »
Economic wrap-up for June 2023
Stats SA published 26 statistical releases in June, shedding light on the current state of the economy. SA narrowly averts recession The month began with the release of the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures. After faltering in the fourth quarter of 2022, the South African economy expanded by 0,4% in the first quarter of read more »
General Household Survey (GHS)
The General Household Survey (GHS) is one of Stats SA’s longest-running surveys, and has been conducted for more than twenty years. The GHS collects information on a number of themes, including basic service delivery, access to health care, education, and agriculture, amongst others. The dataset is a rich source of information, allowing for the development read more »
South African economy expands by 0,4%
After contracting by a revised 1,1% in the fourth quarter of 2022, real gross domestic product (GDP) edged higher in the first quarter of 2023 (January‒March), expanding by an estimated 0,4%.1 The manufacturing and finance industries were the major drivers of growth on the supply side of the economy. The demand side was lifted by read more »
Economic wrap-up for May 2023
Stats SA published 21 statistical releases in the month of May, providing valuable insight into the current state of our economy. Here is a brief rundown of important indicators. Inflation edged lower in April Despite the ongoing stresses of rising prices and escalating costs of debt, there were some hopeful signs from the latest inflation read more »
Beyond unemployment – Time-Related Underemployment in the SA labour market
South Africa’s unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2023 was recorded at 32,9 %, and is among the highest in the world. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), this is an increase of 0,2 of a percentage point compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. While the unemployment rate may be high, read more »
Focus on food inadequacy and hunger in South Africa in 2021
In 2021, about 2,1 million (11,6%) of South African households reported experiencing hunger. South Africa faces challenges ranging from high unemployment and poverty to the ongoing energy crisis and rising costs of living. These impact negatively on South Africa’s state of food security by making food expensive and inaccessible to many and increasing the read more »
Safeguarding every drop: Profiling South Africa’s Strategic Water Source Areas
Water outages across the country have focussed attention on water as a vital resource. South Africa is a semi-arid country, with only a few natural source areas for water. These areas, referred to as Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs), provide much of the water that flows from our taps. SWSAs can be thought of as read more »